Personally, when I see him play, he sometimes looks rusty/shaky. However, I attribute that entirely to his lack of playing time. I think if he were a teams number 1 goalie, and was able to get into a good rhythm, and easily become a good number 1.

He is without a doubt a Legit #1 goalie. A huge threat if playing on the right team. He tore up the AHL, and now hes playing really well considering he spends most of his time on the bench. Hes definately a 1a Goalie.

He's had more bad and "okay" games then great ones this season, still has many "?" all over him. He's playing well as an NHL backup, but the potential to be a starter is up in the air and saying that he's a legit #1 at this point is like picking a needle in a haystack because there are so many variables that aren't clear about Halak, yet.

Habs fans have a tendancy to overrate goalies. Some were even convinced once that Aebisher was a good goalie.

Kinda hard not to. I mean, just in the last 10 years, we've gone through Theodore, Vokoun, Huet, Garon and Price. In between that, Hackett, Danis (now in Long Island) and Aebischer. Not bad I'd say. I wonder how many other teams have gone through good-to-great goalies like we have.

Anyway, Jaroslav. Jaroslav has the potential to be a number one goaltender, but in today's volatile market for goalies, I wouldn't say he could nail down a job anywhere he'd go. I wouldn't say he is Ilya Bryzgalov or Vesa Toskala potential, but maybe in the middle like Tim Thomas, Mathieu Garon and Alex Auld, where he could be waiting a long time for a team to finally rely on him, and when they do, they could see some great things out of it. So yeah, the potential is certainly there.

Kinda hard not to. I mean, just in the last 10 years, we've gone through Theodore, Vokoun, Huet, Garon and Price. In between that, Hackett, Danis (now in Long Island) and Aebischer. Not bad I'd say. I wonder how many other teams have gone through good-to-great goalies like we have.

Anyway, Jaroslav. Jaroslav has the potential to be a number one goaltender, but in today's volatile market for goalies, I wouldn't say he could nail down a job anywhere he'd go. I wouldn't say he is Ilya Bryzgalov or Vesa Toskala potential, but maybe in the middle like Tim Thomas, Mathieu Garon and Alex Auld, where he could be waiting a long time for a team to finally rely on him, and when they do, they could see some great things out of it. So yeah, the potential is certainly there.

Tim Thomas is leading or close to leading the NHL in several categories.

Awesome reflexes but gives too many rebounds and finds himself scrambling to find or cover that lose puck. Still a very young goalie and has bright years ahead of him but has to address this issue. He has to look bigger in his crease, seems like he leaves a lot of open net top shelf.

IMO, Halak is already is a #1 quality goalie as far as his performance, he just happens to be stuck behind a better one. It would be pretty easy to name 5-10 teams where he could step in and be their #1 right away.

Wednesday, I'd have said he could project to a #1 guy. Today, I'd say he's a solid back-up or a serviceable tandem guy.

With young players, goalies especially, consistency is the issue. Halak has the ability to play at a high level. At this point he doesn't do that consistently (played well Tuesday, not so much Thursday). He was able to play well consistetnly in lower-levels of hockey, including the AHL level, and has show spurts in the NHL.

Realistically, its' too early/he's too inexperienced to tell with any degree of certainty. He's got some proving to do.

Tim Thomas is leading or close to leading the NHL in several categories.

My point was that it took forever for Boston to finally rely on the guy. I've actually been a fan of Thomas for a while now, been calling him "Gump" for a few years. Fat goalies are awesome. Anyway, my point was, even last season when Boston should have been confident with giving Thomas the starting role, they went out and got Fernandez.